Apparatus fob subjecting material



Apnl 26, 1949. E. T. DENTON APPARATUS FOR SUBJECTING MATERIAL TO THE ACTION OF SPLIT ELECTRICAL DISCHARGES Filed Aug. 6, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 larllfflyaiozz E. T. DENTON APPARATUS FOR SUBJECTING MATERIAL TO THE April 26, 1949.-

ACTION OF SPLIT ELECTRICAL DISCHARGES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 6, 1943 larlziefliaz, w

Patented A r. 26, ra s e I 2 458 175 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR sunmc'rmc Merriam To The ACTION or sPLir-ELnc'rarcAr. mscnanoas Earl T. Denton, Butler, 2a., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Koppel-s Company, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application August 6, 1,943, Serial No. 497,676-

This invention relates to a method and apparatus wherein gaseous material is subjected to the action of a split or divided electrical discharge.

The present, invention in one form is directed to an electrochemical apparatus for effecting electrochemical transformation of material. The apparatus comprises the combination of a source of' cyclic electrical energy and a reactor, said reactor comprising inlet and outlet members, a high potential reactor electrode connected to said source of cyclic electrical energy, and a plurality of cooperating low potential reactor electrodes, each thereof being in operative connection with a separate antenna, each of said antennas being in circuit with said source of cyclic electrical energy. Each antenna is conditioned to cause the initiationcf a plurality of discharges in said reactor on the passage of said cyclic electrical energy through the high potential electrode, said discharges being preferably luminous discharges.

The electrical characteristics of the electrical with transfer of electrical energy from a source Ill) (llaims. (Cl. 204-327) of cyclic electrical energy to the reactor electrodes, with relatively low transfer loss. said apparatus comprising a reactor comprising inlet and outlet members, a high potential electrode,

The principal object ofthe present invention 5 and a plurality of lowpotential electrodes cooperis .to provide a method and apparatus whereby ating therewith, said reactor being combined with electrical energy is. transferred from a source of a generator unit including a tank circuit connect-V high frequency current in a reactor discharge ing the generator unit to the reactor, said'genzone with relatively little loss of electrical energy. erator unitiunctioning as a source of electrical More specifically, the present inventionis di- 10 energy. The tank circuit includes a pluralityof rected to the step of increasing,- in an apparaantennas, each respectively in operative connectus of the character herein set forth, the-election with each of said cooperating electrodes. trical energy transfer efllciency. This is efsaid tank circuit being tuned to cause the initiafected by carrylng out the chemical reactions. tion of a plurality of discharges in said reactor in the reactor in the presence of split discharges, m on the passage of electrcal energy through said 1 this term being used in the sense that it covers electrode.

discharges which are totally split or which are In the preferred form of the invention, the merely split for a portion of the discharge reactor of the electrochemical apparatus isprovolume, usualLv closely adjacent to the coopervided with a'hot electrode which is incapable of ating electrodes which generate the discharge. 2" oxidation at the temperature present in the reactor. Desirabiy, it has a melting point of the order of that possessed by tantalum, whereby oxidation of. the electrode is inhibited at the temperature present in the reactor.

It is within the province of the present inve tion to use high frequency energy in currents varying from about 10,000 cycles to 300,000 me. although low frequency energy as hereafter more particularly set forth may be used. These figures correspond in wave length from 30,000 meters to 1 mm. or less. The invention may be carried out when using a high frequency current varying from about 250,000 cycles to 300,000 mc. or over; or using 500,000 cycles to 300,000 mc. or

-. over. As a practical matter, the lnventionflnds its greatest field of usefulness when the electrochemical transformation of the materials is effected using high frequencyenergy of the order of radio frequency or radar frequency. Howcircuit of which the antennas are a component 0 ever, s pointed out, the invention may be used part must be Such that Spl t discharges are in connection with much lower or higher freduced when cyclic electrical energy is applied (Wench; to the hi h pote o o electrode of the The invention will be described in connection actor. In one form of the invention, the anth th accompanying drawings, in which tennas are coupled to inductances, said induct- 1 Sets forth a reactor in which a pluances bein preferab o a character o provide rain of electrodes is provided, one of which is what may be termed a rela iv luminous a so-called hot electrode" directly connected in i e- Other equivalent e s m y be used I the tank circuit of the generator; and the re tO condition the antennas SO that the circuit Of majning electrodes function ground elecwhich said antennas are a part will cause the t initiation of a plurality of discharges in the rela is a detail f a modified form of actor on the p a e r cyclic electrical energy tenna which maybe substituted for the antenna through the reactor hot electrode. The reactor v shown in Fjg 1; hown in F 1 f th rawin h ntennas Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of an which ar p op y conditioned by antenna apparatus for drying air prior to its introduction wires alone, no inductances being used. into the reactor and for absorbing the nitric In t e e p c t e invention. an oxide content of the exit reaction gases; apparatus is provided fo effectin e ectron Fig. 3 further sets forth the hook-up of the chemical transformation of gaseous material high frequency generator used in providing the high frequency energy supplied to the tank circult connecting the generator tothe reactor;

and i Fig. 4 sets forth the tank circuit used in conveying the electrical energy from the generator to the reactor.

the sheath 1 is an electrode 9 carrying a pointed electrode terminal or tip III.

The electrode 9 is mounted in an insulating closure member II, said electrode 9 being connected to an antenna I2 in any suitable manner, as for example, by set screw I3. Positioned within the leg 4 is a similar electrode I4, having an electrode tip or terminal I5. The electrode I4 is positioned within a sheath member I6, the latter passing through out that the sheath members function, to a large extent, to protect the outer vessel from the eiiect of heat, which may be produced during the course i of the reaction in the reactor. It is preferable that the electrode terminals I0, I5, 24 and 33 project beyond the interior ends of the sheath members in order to avoid undue heating of sheath tubes, thus avoiding inducing generation of sodium and other undesirable ions which tend I to generate side reactions.

The diameter of each of the reactor legs is approximatelyBZ mm. and the diameter of the sheath members is approximately 23 mm. The

overall length of the horizontal members, from the exterior end of the leg 3 to the exterior end of the leg 4, is about 10 inches, and the vertical members have a like overall length. These dimensions are set forth in an illustrative sense and'are not to be taken by way oilimltation.

l to efiect the electrochemical transformation of While the reactor herein set forth may be used various materials, the operation thereof will be a closure member I1, said sheath member being closed by the insulating member, I8 through which the electrode I4 passes. The electrode II is connected to the antenna 20 by any suitable means, as, for example, by set screw I9. Positioned within the vertically extending leg memher 5 is a glass sheath 2|. The leg member 5 is closed by means of the closure 22. The elec-- trode 23 provided with an electrode tip or terminal 24 passes through the closure member 22 and through the sheath closure member 25, which 3 functions to close the exterior end of the sheath 2|. The electrode 23 is connected to a generator 21 by means of a tank circuit lead 26, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The generator, which is identifledas an entity by the numeral 21 in Fig. 1, is grounded via the tank circuit at 28, said ground being also shown at 84 in Fig. 4.' The hook-up of the generator 21 is shown in Fig. 3, the gene'rator circuit being coupled withthe tank circuit set forth in Fig. 4.

and mounted in the closure members and ill is an electrode 32, provided with an electrode terminal or tip 33. The electrode 32 is connected to the antenna 34 in any suitable manner, as by means of a set screw 35. The leg 5 isprovided with an inlet conduit 36 and leg 5 with an outlet,

conduit 31.

The electrode terminals I'D, I5, 24 and 33 are preferably pointed, as this increases the chemical yield of product per kilowatt hour- However, it is within the province of the present invention to use buttons, nodules, globules, or to have the electrode terminals in any other shape hitherset forth in connection withthe production of nitric oxide from atmospheric air.

The atmospheric air to be treated is dried in an apparatus of the character set forth in Fig. 2, and in the manner hereinafter described, and then is introduced through the inlet member 36 into the sheath member 2|, and then passes through the sheath member and through the plurality of discharges present in the reactor. The reaction products pass around the electrode terminal 33, through the sheath member 29, and leave the reactor by means of the exit conduit 31.

The air is dried prior to its introduction into I the reactor vessel I by passing it through the soda lime tube A, Fig. 2, then through the silica gel tube B, thence through the conduit C, through the orifice D of the difierential manometer E, through the valve F, and thence. to the reactor I. At the point H is connected the mercury manometer G which measures the internal pressure of the reactor. From the reactor I the exit gases pass through exit conduit 31 to a series of silica gel absorber tubes J, which tubes extract the nitric oxide content of the' exit gases. A vacuum is applied by means of the vacuum pump K and the amount of vacuum adjusted by means of the release valve L and the main valve F in the supply line. The soda lime functions not only to take out a portion of the moisture but also to extract from the air substantially all of the carbon dioxide. The air as delivered to the reactor I has a moisture content of about 5 to 8 mg. of moisture per liter. When the run is started, the valves N and P are closed and M and O are open. When operation has reached equilibrium, valves N and ,P are quickly opened and valves M and .0 closed, noting the time of doing so with a stop-watch. Upon conclusion of the run, valves M and O are opened, while N and P are closed. 3

The time, interval during which the valves N and P are open to the absorbers and the valves to used in the treatment or electrochemical transformation of chemical products.

When the electrode terminals are in the shape of sharp-pointed members, the sheath members I, I 8, 2| and 29 may be omitted, but it is highly desirable to retain them in order to force the flow of the gaseous medium being subjected to the M and O of the by-pass are closed is six minutes.

During this period the silica gel is absorbing the nitric oxide produced by the reaction. After the run is terminated, the silica gel tubes are weighed and the increase in weight taken as the weight of nitric oxideproduced in the six minutes.

, In starting the apparatus, the flow of dried air is initiated through theinlet member 36, said air passing through the reactor vessel I at a velocity of approximately 500 cc. per minute, standard conditions, the pressure within the reit being pointed outthat, as

' parts,

frequency current is applied to the electrode 23,

there is produced a split discharge, the discharge splitting to set up three distinct discharges, one discharge R being -'set up between electrode terminal 24 and electrode terminal I another discharge S being set up between the electrode terminal 24 and electrode terminal 33; and another discharge T set up between the electrode terminal and the electrode terminal I5. Using nickel electrode terminals, the electrode gap for discharge R is 24 mm.; for discharge S, 23 mm.; and for discharge T, 25 mm. These specific discharge gaps are set forth by way of illustration and not by way of limitation,itbeing recognized that the discharge gaps may vary greatly in accordance with predetermined factors, such as the voltage under which the high frequency current is supplied, the frequency of the high frequency energy, the pressure of the the reactor; the nature of the gas which it is degas passing through In this case, the transfer efiiciency, instead of being increased to about may be increased in the apparatus used in an illustrative sense in this application to about 30%. Without going into detail as to other means of increasing efliciency known to the prior art and not part of this present invention, by optimum balancing of sired to electrochemically react, and similar factors.

In general, while the energy supplied to the electrode 23 may be of radio frequency or radar frequency, it is within the province of the present invention to apply energy of any frequency which will result in the production of split discharges, a practical matter, it is more difficult to tune to lower frequencies of the order of 60 to 500 cycles than it is to tune to substantially higher frequencies.

The split discharges may be produced using the apparatus set forth in Fig. 1 by supplying to the electrode 23 electrical energy of a frequency approximating 7.5 mc.approximately meters said energy being supplied at approximately 800 volts. When electrical energy of this character'is supplied to the electrode with antennas of the character herein set forth, there is produced a triply split discharge of fore described. The impedance, capacitance, inductance, and ohmic resistance, in other words, the electrical characteristics, of the tank circuit of which the various antennas are component must be such that split discharges are produced when electrical energy of a high frequency is applied to the hot electrode 23.

The use of a plurality of antennae, each connected to a. respective cold or low potential electrode, herein designated as antenna electrodes, makes it possible to provide an apparatus including a relatively eflicient split discharge. Thus, if a. plurality of antennae are provided having characteristics makingpossible a split discharge of any character, the efliciency is increased over-a single discharge device even in the simple apparatus heretofore shown by way of example, from 1% to 2% (where a simple ground connection is used) to approximately 10%.

It would be expected from the prior art knowledge that, if using a single pair of electrodes the load could be increased three fold, the transfer the character hereinbeefllciency would then be increased similarly, i. e.,

inductor coils I of having a wave length load to supply, the art has been able to achieve a maximum efiiciency of 50% to 55%. On the other hand, utilizing the apparatus and method of the present invention, substantially greater transfer eficiencies are obtained. But even if only the same transfer efiiclencies were obtained, the apparatus and method of the present invention is highly advantageous, because inan apparatus utilizing luminous gaseous discharge generated by high frequency energy the tuning to optimum operating conditions may be carried out with greater precision using the split discharge method, than when using the conventional balancing of loads method.

If the antennas 12,20 and 34 are provided with 453 turns each, of No. 28 D.C.C. copper wire of I l -inch diameter, and also in each case an additional 10-foot length of antenna wire, the transfer efliciency when using a frequency of 2.2 mc.approximate1y 137 meters will be 32% to'33%. Fig. 1 shows an antenna i 2 having an inductor I in circuit therewith.

This increase in transfer efficiency, that is, the transfer of electrical energy from the generator circuit to the reactor, is accomplished by turning each antenna by means of a variable inductance, the amount of the inductance being such as to preferably give what may be termed a fat dis-, charge, that is, a discharge which is not a stringy arc,mostly core. For example, the arc between the electrode tips 24 and I0 is maintained in a bulged-out state, such as shown in Fig. 1, this being accomplished bycutting in or out in the antenna l2 inductance coils, a variable inductor being used to accomplish the same. If too many or too little coils are cut in or-outof the antenna, then the discharge may become what is known as a stringy or a fluttering discharge; and, under some circumstances, may be entirely extinguished.

It is to be understood from the above explanation that no hard and fast rule can be given for the amount of inductance which is cut in or out of the antenna, but that functionally it should be that amount which will provide a fat discharge, or a fairly fat discharge, while at the same time producing a significant increase in electrical transfer efiiciency, which may be as much as to It is desired to point out that the use of 453 turns of inductance coils, as described above, is necessary when using a highfrequency current of approximately 137 meters or approximately 2.2 mc. As the frequency of the electrical energy varies, the amount of inductance used must vary correspondingly.

While the conditions under which a fat discharge is produced between electrode tips 24 and it have been specifically set forth, similar conditions apply for the production of a fat discharge between the electrode tip 24 and electrode tip 33; and electrode tip 24 and electrode tip l5, fat discharges between said electrodes being generated by the insertion of inductances in the antennas 34 and 20 respectively. In this connection, it may be stated that all three antennas i 2, 34 and 20 preferably should be adjusted simultaneously to insure maximum energy transfer eihciency.

charges. the present invention, the potential discharge may besplit into two discharges, three discharges, or a greater numberof discharges, by increasing 'It is desired to point out that equal amounts '20 respectively, since the discharge gaps between the 'hotelectrode', and the antenna electrodesare approximately equal. When thesedischarge gaps are. not equal, then, of course, the induc- 'tancesinserted ,intherespective antennas will not be the same.

As shown in Fig. 1, there is provided'a. hot electrode 24 and three antenna electrodes. However,

' of inductance are placed inzan'tennas l2, and

the present invention is not limited tofsplitting v the potential discharge into three distinctdis- In other words, using the principle of the number of antenna electrodes; and there will be produced, by employing said method and said apparatus, an increase of the character above set.

forth in the transfer .efliciency of electrical enorgy, thereby insuring a paramount reduction in power costs for any :given project. p p

. While the present invention has been s et forth in connection with the production of nitric oxide,

, it may be applied to effect in anumber of chemical reactions, including chemical. combination, polymerization, dehydrogenation,oxidation, and

the lilre.- Organic :compounds, such as aliphatic,

. Fig. 3 sets forth thehook-up of the high frefquency generator unit used for producing the high frequency energy suppliedto the tank circuit. 7

connecting the generator to the reactor. 'The diagram may be divided into four. circuits, 38, 39, and GL Circuit is the full waverectification unit whereinthe leads l2 601311605120 the 110-volt :BO-cycle supply on. the panel board. The numeral 43 identifies a transformer delivering its secondary highyoltagecurrent to the two rectification tubes 44, the filamentsotwhich are heated by current generated in the filament I transformer 45.' The resistor iliandlfixed condenser -4B,-together with the choke coil "45, con-' stitute a filter. The high voltage D.,C. current produced by this circuit leaves same by means;

of the ground connection 4.9 and' the lead 150.

which delivers to the plate of tubes BI, and, 52

of the oscillator circuit. The transformer 53,

aromatic, 'or' cyclic hydrocarbons, aldehydes,

ketones, alcohols, esters, and acids, as well as nitrogen, sulphur, halogen, orother substitution products and derivativesthereof, may betreated in accordance with the principleof the present I invention to effect'chemical combination, splitting or breaking down, transformation from saturated to unsaturated compounds, or vice versa,

hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, and many other chemical reactions. p The present invention may be usedfor the production of aldehydes, such as formaldehyde, for

copper lithium alloy, as, for example, 98% copper with 2% lithium. It is desirable that the hot electrode tip 24 consist of a higher melting metal or metal alloy, as, for example, tantalum, since the hot electrode carries the power which is supplied to the antenna electrodes, and therefore the hot electrode is always at a higher temperature and subject to more oxidation than the antenna electrodes.

The hot electrode terminal may be made of a metal or alloy having a different ion emission potential from the antenna electrodes. It is within the province of the present invention to make the electrodes and electrode tips of different a conducting metals oralloys, so as to provide electrode tips each chosen to have its own selective ion emission potential.

While it has been stated that the reaction in the reactor I is carried out in a partial vacuum, it is within the province of the present invention to carry out reactions therein using atmospheric pressure or superatmospheric pressure.

connected with 1 10-volt supply, provides the fllam'ent power for the tubes5i and 52.: Theidesired frequency is obtained by means 'of' tuningthen oscillator circuit 39, such tuning being effected by operation of the variable condenser 54 .and. the inductance 55. I

. In carrying out the work it is necessary to changethe size of the induc tan'ce 55 by steps. This is done by removing one p inductance and replacing same with another in I ductance having the desired characteristics. The minor; circuit 56 is a coup cir uit, coupli t I oscillatoiacircuit 39 to the grid input; circuit 51 of, the-power amplifier circuit Ii). The grid circult of the ower amplifier is tuned by means of the variable condenser 58 and by changing in I ductance coils 51 in a, manner similar to the,

' change effectedin inductance,;55,-as necessary to meet requirements." The' combination' of resistor59 and condenser 50, both of which are grounded, serves to minimize or eliminate parasitic oscillations that mightyrender the output less monochromatic. The resistor 6| provides grid bias for the power amplifier tubes 62 and ,63. Transformer 64 provides power for'the filaments of the power tubes 62 and 63.

tubes 5| and 52. Transformer 65, connectedwith a -vo1t supply, provides the energy to the power. supply rectification tubes 66 and 81.

Transformer 58 also connected with a 110-volt,

supply, provides the powerfor the fllamentslof tubes 56 and 61. It will be observed that circuit 4| is essentially similar to circuit. The combination of the choke 69, fixed condenser 10, and

resistor II constitutes a filter. The, rectified power leaves the circuit via the milllammeter 12 to ground and lead 13 to the power amplifier circuit). The voltage at which it is delivered is measured by the voltmeter ll.

The power amplifier circuit III is tuned to the desired frequency as generated by means of oscillator tubes 5i and 52 of oscillator circuit. 39 by means of the variable condenser 15 and the inductance 16. The inductance I6 is varied by means of changing coils to meet various wave length requirements as is done in the case of inductances 55 and 51. The power ampliiiercircuit 40 thus tuned andsupplied by D. C. power from circuit 4i transmits the amplified high frequency energy to the couplin circuit 11, which in turn delivers it to a tank circuit such as is shown in Fig. 4 at 18.

I I described as above set forth betweenthe limits. of wave length of I p 20 meters or 15 mo, and l'lfi rneters'or 1.71 mc.,

These tubes; amplify power provided by circuit 4|, imparting thereto the frequency developed by oscillator Fig. 4 represents a tank circuit of the type known as "end grounded. The coupling circuit 18, Fig. 4, is part of the same circuit 11 shown in Fig. 3. It is placed at the end of the inductance 19 instead of in the middle, as would be the case if it were center grounded. The point 80 is the location of the hot electrode of the arc, while I2, 20 and 34 show the location of the antenna electrodes; Tuning of this tank circuit is accomplished by means of the variable condenser 8| and by changing the inductance I9 to meet requirements. The circuit conductors 82 are preferably of coppertubing. The high frequency voltmeter is shown at 83, and it will be noted that it has a ground terminal 84 which is also the ground terminal for the inductor 19. The hot electrode 80 connects into the tank circuit by means of conductor 26. This tank circuit was used in carrying out the invention as set forth in Figures 1 and 1 of the drawing, Figure 1 setting forth that form of the invention in which the wires themselves have sufiicient inductance to effect tuning, and Figure 1 setting forth that form in which the antenna has an inductance in circuit therewith.

The present invention, while specifically adapt ed for theproduction of nitric oxide, may be used for the electrochemical transformation of many different chemical entities. Nitric oxide may be produced by passing through the reactor a nitrogenand oxygen-containing medium in which the nitrogen and oxygen gases are present in various proportions, and includes air, which is a naturally-occurring mixture of oxygen and nitrogen gases, or a synthetic mixture containing nitrogen gas and oxygen gas. Each of said mixtures may have present a diluent gas, some of which assists in promoting the reaction so as to produce nitrogen oxides, as, for example, nitric oxide, said diluent gas preferably being an inert gas, as, for example, helium, neon, and the like.

.By "radio frequency as used above is meant a frequency ranging from 300,000 cycles to 600 me. and more usually 500,000 cycles to 60 me.

By "radar frequency as used above is meant a frequency ranging from 30 me. to 30,000 mo. and more usually a frequency from 60 me. to 3,000 me.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electrochemical apparatus for efiecting electrochemical transformation of gaseous material, the combination of a reactor chamber,

means for introducing gaseous material therein,

means for removing transformed material therefrom, an electrical circuit furnishing cyclic electrical energy, a high potential electrode in said reactor chamber and connected in said circuit and receiving said cyclic electrical energy, a plurality of cooperating low potential electrodes disposed in said reactor chamber, said cooperating low potential electrodes being separately spaced from each other and arranged to receive a luminous discharge from said high potential electrode, an antenna connected to each of said separately spaced cooperating electrodes, the latter and each antenna being in circuit with said source of cyclic electrical energy, and means to tune each antenna and thereby initiate and maintain a plurality of discharges between said high potential electrode and the low potential electrodes.

2. In an electrochemical apparatus for effecting electrochemical transformation of gaseous material, the combination of a reactor chamber, means for introducing gaseous material therein, means for removing transformed material there- 10 a from, an electrical circuit furnishing cyclic electrical energy, a high potential electrode in said reactor chamber and connected in said circuit and receiving said cyclic electrical energy, a

plurality of cooperating low potential electrodes disposed in said reactor chamber, said cooperating electrodes being separately spaced from each other and arranged to receive a luminous discharge from said high potential electrode, an

antenna connected to each of said separately spaced cooperating low potential electrodes, the

latter and each antenna being in circuit with said source of cyclic electrical energy, and an inductance in said circuit sufiicient to tune each antenna and thereby initiate and maintain a plurality of discharges between said high potential electrode and said cooperating low potential electrodes.

3. In an electrochemical apparatus for eflecting electrochemical transformation of gaseous material, the combination of a reactor provided with means for introducing gaseous material therein, means for, removing transformed material therefrom, and an electrical circuit furnishing cyclic electrical energy, a high potential electrode in said reactor and connected in said circuit and receiving said cyclic electrical energy, a plurality of cooperating low potential electrodes disposed in said reactor, said electrodes being separately spaced from each other and arranged to receive a luminous discharge from said high potential electrode, and anantenna Wire connected to each of said separately spaced cooperating electrodes, the latter and each antenna wire being in circuit with said source of cyclic electrical energy, each of said antenna wires having of itself sufilcient inductance to be correctly tuned and thereby initiate and maintain a plurality of discharges between said high potential electrode and said cooperating low potential electrodes.

4. In combination, an electrical circuit including therein a source of cyclic electrical energy capable, of producing a frequencyof at least 10,000 cycles per second, a reactor chamber,

. means for introducing gaseous material therein,

means for removing transformed material therefrom, a high potential electrode in said reactor chamber, and in circuit with said source of cyclic energy, a plurality of cooperating low potential electrodes separately spaced from each other and arranged to receive a luminous discharge from said high potential electrode, an antenna connected to each of said separately spaced low potential electrodes and in circuit with said source of cyclic energy, and means to tune each antenna and thereby initiate and maintain a plurality of discharges between said high potential electrode and said low potential cooperating electrodes.

5. In an electrochemical apparatus for effecting electrochemical transformation of gaseous material, the combination of a reactor chamber,

means for introducing gaseous material therein, means for removing transformed material therefrom, an electrical circuit furnishing cyclic electrical energy varying between .5 mo. and Kim, a high potential electrode in said chamber connected in said circuit and receiving said cyclic electrical energy, a plurality of low potential cooperating electrodes disposed in said reactor chamber, said cooperating low potential. electrodes being separately spaced from each other and arranged to receive a luminous discharge from said high potential electrode, an'antenna connected to each of said separately spaced coa l 1 operating electrodes, the latter and each antenna being in circuit with said source of electrical energy, and means to tune each antenna and tlrierebs' initiate and maintain a plurality of electrical discharges between said high potential ele'ctrdde and "the cooperating low potential electrodes." V

EARL T. DENTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 507,975 De Neal Oct. 31, 1893 672,231 Lacomme Apr. 16, 1901 12 Number Name Date 739,920 Pauling Sept. 29, 1903 926,413 Helbig June 29, 1909 1,368,0 4 Buettner Feb. 8, 1921 6 1,912,373 Jakosky et a1. June 6, 1933 2,106,780 Whittier Feb. 1, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS m Number Country Date 854,736 Great Britain Aug. 6, 1931 34,017 Austria Aug. 10, 1908 297,773 Germany Dec. 23, 1915 OTHER REFERENcEs IU. R. S. 8., V01. 18, (1938), page 329. 

